Is it worth an image than a thousand words? Manuel Fraga believed so. That is why in 1966, when he served as Minister of Information and Tourism under Franco, he starred in one of the most emblematic (and castizos) moments of recent Spanish history: he donned a swimsuit and, accompanied by the then US ambassador, Angier Biddle Duke, took a dip near Palomares. This event occurred only weeks after several thermonuclear bombs fell in the area due to the collision of a B-52 bomber and an American tanker airplane, making it crucial to transmit an image of normality. If Fraga could bathe without fear of radiation, then why shouldn’t the public?
Nearly 60 years later, the Mayor of Ourense, Gonzalo Pérez Jácome , seems to have reached a similar conclusion. To allay concerns regarding the health safety of the *Las Termas do Muiño*, one of the municipality’s most popular attractions, the mayor donned some swim trunks and took a bath in front of the cameras. Instead of Angier B. Duke, he was accompanied by his own council member responsible for tourism, arts, celebrations, and thermal management, Noa Rouco Ferreira. Both were ready for a splash in the water.
“As if we were returning 60 years ago”
<span>Click on the image to go to Tweet.</span>“Five, four, three … we are here, in the hot springs of Muiño,” Pérez Jácome begins in a video, standing beside Rouco and large signage from the Xunta promoting bathing in the area. The mayor struggled to hold his microphone as he stood shirtless, so he cleverly hooked it onto the hair on his chest. Once that was sorted, he pointed to the poster featuring the Galician government logo, making it clear that while the regulations might be complicated and tedious, they found the opportunity to demonstrate confidence in the safety of the hot springs.
“Talking about this regulation would be very lengthy—a hassle, really. You will see through our social networks and various informative channels what the situation is regarding the hot springs. The fact remains that this is the recommendation of the Xunta,” he insisted while emphasizing the poster. “And just like we were transported back 50 or 60 years ago to that of Palomares, the city councilor and I, the mayor of Ourense, are going to take a bath here.”
The video transitioned from speaking to showing Jácome and Rouco enjoying a swim. “A natural paradise, incomparable in the world. Pay attention, you’ll see, you’ll see,” proclaimed the mayor of Ourensana Democracy (DO), lying in the water. This short promotional piece lasted 68 seconds, but it was effective: Jácome’s bath clip quickly generated buzz throughout Spain, making waves across social media platforms.
</div>Over the past years, the Galician mayor has made headlines not just locally but also nationally for various reasons, including his party’s musical video for the elections featuring a rendition of the Village People. His outlandish campaigns against infrastructure like bollards, coupled with the light-hearted manner he approaches issues as well as his take on teleworking and even *hubby* by The Costumes, show a man who knows how to engage an audience. Now, he adds a new reason for headlines: a swim reminiscent of Fraga’s historic dip in Palomares.
The backdrop to this moment is more complex than it appears. The status of the Termas do Muiño, a collection of swimming pools situated almost directly on the banks of the Miño, has gained attention. In June, the Xunta warned that the area lacks proper thermal water certification or the characteristics needed to be deemed a “bath area.” The statement was a caution to the local council to put up signs advising against swimming until proper regulation takes place.
However, the Consistory takes a different view. In a statement released after the mayor’s dip, the town emphasized that their disagreements with the Xunta are purely administrative, not health-related, and claimed that swimming in the thermal pools poses no risk. “The springs maintain their usual health standards; what has changed are the regulations introduced by the Xunta, which focus on administrative requirements rather than health issues,” highlighted the leader of Ourensana Democracy, assuring the public that the city conducts regular health analyses of the waters.
For now, Jácome’s media exposure from the swim has achieved an effective goal: getting the media spotlight back on the *Las Termas do Muiño*, which has been closed for several months due to flooding issues.
Images | Gonzalo Pérez Jácome (X)
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